All over Brooklyn’s Crown Heights, where the streets echo with a vibrant mosaic of cultures, mal sounds—born Amal Buford—combines his urban upbringing with a formative spark from Valencia, Spain. During a 2020 visit to stay with family, the global pandemic’s isolation forced him to confront the deeper purpose behind his music, prompting a shift from social collaboration to intimate reflection.
Rebranding as mal sounds, his 2021 chillwave single “VVS” quickly caught attention on Instagram, leading to two atmospheric EPs: 2021’s “Freak And Wild Things” and 2024’s “Still In New York.” His music consistently seeks to create sonic spaces that encourage listeners to perceive and process the world differently.
He has recently been selected for NME’s Get Featured program in partnership with BandLab, giving emerging musicians wider exposure. This opportunity aligns with the imminent release of his debut album, “Don’t Hold Your Breath.” “BandLab feels like a social media platform full of musicians,” he explains, “and I often discover new work there that inspires my own production.”
Here, mal discusses the challenges of self‑production and his commitment to crafting soothing sonic landscapes.
Hi, mal! So why is now the right time to release your debut album?
“Until now, myyting pieces felt disjointed. Writing an album that inhabits a cohesive world feels transformative, especially after years of grappling with industry expectations. Working on this record has been curative and grounding.”
How would you describe the overall narrative you’ve honed on the album?
“I’m fascinated by cycles and repetition. Over my twenties, I kept encountering the same lesson, only in varied contexts. This record tells the story of embracing that repetition, of unshrinking—expanding beyond the confines we impose on ourselves to expand our sense of self.”
He also explores the boundless interiority of the mind. “As a producer, I aimed to echo the emptiness of a cavernous mind—where guitars swell and recede like distant reflections, intertwining sound and lyric.”
The album has such a calming, balmy quality to it – was that very much intentional?
“Calmness is built around focus. Immersing myself in ambient and shoegaze textures, I sought to use vocals as both narrative and anchor, guiding listeners toward a quiet attention to their surroundings.”
He suggests listeners could enjoy the music while cycling or walking, cultivating a calmer mental state and heightened observation of their environment.
Six years after your Valencia epiphany, what aspects of being a musician do you find most challenging?
“Maintaining focus is difficult when endless stimuli lurk on the phone. I must continually discern what genuinely serves my artistic mission, lest I become Nursery squeaky marketing noise.”
In a related sense, as a DIY artist, you almost have two jobs: to make music, then to promote it on social media…
“Indeed. Balancing creation and promotion is a delicate dance. I decide I’ll finish the album first, then give social media its turn. Music must remain a joy, not a source of bitterness.”
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